A new sustainability strategy has been launched by SSEN Transmission to underline its commitment to leaving a positive legacy for people, the environment, the economy and the planet.
Head-quartered in Perth and with a network stretching across the north of Scotland, SSEN Transmission plays a pivotal role in connecting and transporting the power needed to decarbonise the UK's electricity network and, in doing so, power the UK's net zero ambition. This week's launch of a new sustainability strategy will ensure that SSEN Transmission continues to drive forward its social and environmental ambitions to create a transition that is fair and sustainable, leaving a positive legacy for all.
Focusing on six key areas - communities, people, climate, nature, procurement and performance - the new strategy is intended to inform stakeholders about what matters most to SSEN Transmission as they work to deliver a network for net zero.
Developed through an inclusive and evidence-based process including input from over 150 stakeholder groups and individuals, this Strategy informs the company's decision making and action up to and including 2030.
Sarah Beattie-Smith, SSEN Transmission's Senior Sustainability manager, said:
"The strategy allows us to act on our core value of sustainability, making sure that we play our part in delivering a transition that is fair and sustainable, and that leaves a positive legacy for generations to come.
"The scale of network growth in the north of Scotland is significant, and we recognise that the unprecedented pace and scale of network expansion will have impacts - on communities hosting our infrastructure, on the natural environment, and on the climate. We've created this strategy to make sure those impacts are positive, and that we are doing the right thing for people and the planet.
"We want to make sure we're not just leaving things how we found them but improving them and leaving a positive legacy - from creating new jobs and homes and supporting, local suppliers across the north of Scotland, to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, and restoring natural habitats - there is so much to be excited about in this strategy."
Lang Banks, Director of WWF Scotland said:
"To tackle the climate and nature emergency, we need every business to commit to cutting carbon, restoring our natural environments, and ensuring the transition to net zero is fair for workers, communities, and consumers. And, to fully unlock our country's clean renewable power resources, cut household fuel bills, and create jobs we rapidly need to upgrade the electricity network. It's very positive to see a business like SSEN Transmission setting targets and objectives towards all these goals."
Claire Mack, Chief Executive at Scottish Renewables, said:
"Scotland's renewable energy industry is at the forefront of tackling the climate and nature emergency, helping to deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits. The transformation of Scotland's electricity networks is critical for driving forward the renewable energy projects at the heart of our just transition to net-zero. It is therefore very welcome to see SSEN Transmission develop a Sustainability Strategy which will help secure a more sustainable and prosperous future for local communities across the North of Scotland."
Pioneers in marine habitat restoration
Nature is a key focus area within the new Sustainability Strategy that SSEN Transmission is committed to protecting and enhancing, building on the commitment to achieve 10% biodiversity net gain on all projects gaining consent to ensure SSEN Transmission leave a positive impact on nature and the environment.
With several major new transmission projects set to include subsea infrastructure, such as the new Eastern Green Link 2 project, the Orkney Link Project and Western Isles HVDC Link, the company is particularly committed to establishing themselves as pioneers in marine habitat restoration by 2030.
Already SSEN Transmission has strong links with organisations such as the Orkney Skate Trust, who specifically monitor and record the number of critically endangered flapper skate around the Orkney isles with an overall aim of trying to reverse their decline. Through the new Sustainability Strategy, work with similar marine organisations is to be enhanced, including partnering with other grassroots organisations, citizen science groups and established industry bodies such as Scottish Association of Marine Science (SAMS) to develop projects to restore and monitor Scotland's marine habitats.
Future projects include a focus on native oyster restoration as well as contributing towards seagrass nurseries, helping to ensure these precious native species and habitats can grow and thrive again in Scottish waters.
Network for Net Zero
SSEN Transmission is on a rapid growth path, delivering a huge programme of work known as the Pathway to 2030 - worth over £20 billion - the largest investment package that Scotland's electricity system has ever seen.
This growth will more than double the renewable generation connected to SSEN Transmission's network in the north of Scotland, delivering the capability to meet 20% of the GB demand for clean power by 2030. This network development is making a significant positive contribution to meeting net zero targets in Scotland and the UK.
Read the full Sustainability Strategy on SSEN Transmission's website.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
New Sustainability Strategy
SSEN Transmission's new Sustainability Strategy reaffirms key commitments across six main areas including:
Communities:
- Leave a positive community legacy by delivering hundreds of new and upgraded homes by 2030 and the launch of our Community Benefit Fund in 2024.
People:
- Implement a Just Transition Workforce Plan by 2026 to grow our skilled workforce in a just and sustainable way.
Nature:
- Grow our biodiversity net gain (BNG) ambition, establishing ourselves as pioneers in marine BNG by 2030.
Procurement:
- Deliver social and economic benefits on 100% of projects and strive to maximise suppliers located in the north of Scotland.
Climate:
- Cut greenhouse gas emissions in line with our pioneering science-based target to limit warming to 1.5° in support of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Performance:
- By 2030, measure our impacts against planetary boundaries, in line with world-leading science.
About SSEN Transmission
- SSEN Transmission is responsible for the electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland, investing in and maintaining the high voltage 132kV, 220kV, 275kV and 400kV electricity transmission network.
- SSEN Transmission's strategic objective is to enable the transition to a low carbon economy. It does this by building the electricity transmission network infrastructure required to connect and transport renewable electricity from the north of Scotland to areas of demand, as it delivers a network for net zero emissions.
- SSEN Transmission is owned 75% by SSE plc and 25% by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers').
- Learn more about SSEN Transmission by visiting www.ssen-transmission.co.uk, twitter at @ssetransmission, LinkedIn or Instagram.
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